Lawsuit Over Casper Mountain Zoning Proceeds After Judge Dismisses Related Case

A lawsuit challenging Natrona County’s zoning authority over state-owned lands near Casper Mountain is now set to proceed, following a judge’s dismissal of a separate but related legal challenge, Wyoming News Now reports.

District Court Judge Josh Eames recently dismissed a suit filed by Prism Logistics against the Natrona County Commission and the Wyoming State Board of Land Commissioners, which had previously paused action on a second lawsuit. With that dismissal, a stay has been lifted, allowing Prism’s remaining legal challenge to move forward.

The remaining case questions whether Natrona County has the authority to restrict certain land uses — including gravel mining — on state-owned lands through local zoning laws. Specifically, it targets the county’s decision to rezone portions of land classified as Mountain Residential-1, a move that effectively barred industrial activities like mining.

At the center of the conflict is Prism’s proposal to develop a gravel mine at the base of Casper Mountain, on state-owned lands where the company had exploratory leases. The Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners — composed of the state’s top five elected officials — approved eight such leases in 2023 for sand, gravel, and rock extraction.

Residents living near the proposed mining site expressed surprise and concern in early 2024 when excavation equipment appeared on the land. Many reported receiving no prior notice of the leases, sparking widespread opposition and a petition that gathered thousands of signatures.

In response to public outcry, the Natrona County Commission revised its zoning regulations to restrict mining on the affected lands, placing further limits on Prism’s plans.

In addition to Prism’s lawsuits, a coalition of local residents and the Casper Mountain Alliance filed a separate suit aiming to invalidate the leases themselves. That case argued that the Board of Land Commissioners had failed to provide adequate public notice or allow for public comment, thus violating due process. Judge Eames dismissed that case as well, one day after the board voted not to renew the contested leases.

Despite that decision, Prism is continuing its legal effort to contest the county’s zoning power. In its pending lawsuit, the company argues that the county lacks the authority to dictate land use on property owned by the state of Wyoming, raising important legal questions about the balance of power between state land management and local land-use regulation.

Prism must file its next brief by July 24, and Natrona County’s response is due by September.

No court date has yet been scheduled for oral arguments.